Improvement in pruning implements



"J. R. HUNTER.

PRUNING IMPLEMENT.

Pa cented June 26,1 77.

INVENTOR:

BY ATTORNEY FF CE JESSE R. HUNTER, OF ORANGE SPRINGS, FLORIDA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRUNING lM PLEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [92,434, dated J nne 26, 1877; application filed June 11, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JESSE RUTLEDGE HUN- TER, of Orange Springs, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination- Pruner, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a side view of my improved pruner, part being brokenaway to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the upper part of the same turned one-quarter around. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the upper part of the same turned one-half around. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the middle part of the handle.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved instrument for pruning shrubs and small trees, which shall be so constructed as to enable it to be used for cutting off large or small limbs, as may be required, and which shall be simple in construction and convenient in use.

The invention consists in the novel combination of the handle, the pipe, the lever, the rod, the slotted hook, having a cutting-edge formed upon its top, the screw, the reversible cutter-plate, the feed-hook, and the short tapering saw-plate, having a cuttingedge formed upon its lower end, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

A is the handle, to the upper end of which is attached the flattened lower end of a pipe, B. To the lower end of the pipe B and the upper end of the handle A is pivoted the end of the lever O, by which the tool is operated. To the lever 0, near its inner end, is pivoted the lower end of the rod D, which passes up through the pipe B, and its upper end is attached to the shank of the hook E. The shank of the hook E, having a cutting-edge or chisel, e, is slotted longitudinally to receive the screw F, by which it is held in place and its movements limited. The screw F also passes through the cutter-plate G and the flattened upper end of the pipe B, where it is locked in place by the nut H, which is made long and is sharpened to adapt it for use as a screwdriver to screw out the screw F, when desired. The plate G has a cutting-edge formed upon each end, so that when one edge becomes dull it may be taken out and reversed and its other edge used. a

To the rear part of the shank of the hook E is secured, by screws, bolts, or rivets, a short tapering saw-plate, I. To the upper end of the pipe B is also secured the shank of an inclined hook, J, the inclinationof which is such that when hooked over a limb of a tree and drawn upon, it will hold said limb up against the saw I while being sawn. Upon the top of the hook E is formed a cuttingedge,'e, to adapt said hook to be used as a chisel for cut ting off small limbs. the saw Iis formed a cutting-edge, i, to adapt said saw to be used as a pruning-hook when desired.

With this construction the instrument may be used as a pruning-shears, as a pruning-saw, as a pruning-chisel, and as a pruning-hook, as

the size and situation of the limb to be cut may render most convenient. If desired, a cord, strap, or other loop, K, may be attached to the handle A for convenience in drawing down upon the instrument when using the saw I.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combinationof the handle A, the pipe B, the lever U, the rod D, the slotted hook E, having a cutting-edge or chisel, 0, formed upon its top, the screw F, the reversible cutter-plate G, the feed-hook J, and the short tapering sawplate I, having a cutting-edge, z", formed upon its lower end, substantially as herein shown and described.

JESSE RUTLEDGE HUNTER. Witnesses:

G. A. LOPEZ, PAYTON ALDERNIGE.

Upon the lower end of 

